Rumor: D-backs prepared to shop Joe Saunders

By Adam Green | May 21, 2012 at 7:09 pmUPDATED: May 21, 2012 at 8:33 pm

The Diamondbacks, for all their early season struggles,
still have one incredibly valuable thing going for them:

Outstanding pitching depth.

Between Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Wade Miley, Trevor
Cahill, Joe Saunders and Patrick Corbin, the team has
plenty of capable big league arms, and that doesn’t
include minor leaguers Trevor Bauer and Tyler Skaggs,
either of whom could be promoted at any time.

Needless to say, there simply are not enough spots in a
five-man rotation for everybody, and with Hudson set to
come off the DL soon, someone is going to have to go. And
soon.

“Don’t be surprised if the D-backs entertain offers for
lefty Joe Saunders before the deadline, regardless of
where they are in the standings,” FOX Sports MLB insider
Ken Rosenthal said over the weekend.

Saunders is 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA this season. He signed a
one-year contract with the club in January, and provides
veteran experience as well as solid pitching from the back
of the rotation.

That’s not to say the D-backs will get an incredible haul
in return for the 30-year-old. He’s not a front-line
starter and, with the rest of the league knowing the D-
backs want to move him, are not likely to offer the farm.

However, the D-backs would not be moving Saunders because
they’re looking for a great return, as they’d simply be
looking to open up a spot in the rotation for one of their
youngsters.

Which is why, no matter where they are in the playoff
race, a move is likely to get done.